Aaron Wilson, of the National Football Post, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out free-agent TE Bear Pascoe (49ers) and free-agent RB Jamall Lee (Panthers), according to a league source.

Also

Aaron Wilson, of the National Football Post, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly working on a contract extension for head coach Mike Tomlin, according to Yahoo! Sports. Tomlin's deal is unlikely to be concluded until after the season.

:Clap

steelerkeylargo

09-12-2009, 12:01 AM

04/28/2009 - A closer look at the 49ers' picks: Round 6/184 - Bear Pascoe, TE, 6-5, 255, Fresno State...Pascoe is a relentless blocker who can immediately step into the role Billy Bajema held the past four seasons. Pascoe will be used as a blocking specialist, while also contributing on special teams

McKenna "Bear" Pascoe is a throwback tight end with good receiving skills to move the chains as well as the size and strength to contribute as a run blocker. He had 85 catches for 953 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons, earning first-team All-WAC in 2007 and second-team honors as a senior. He earns his nickname by running tough after contact and doubling as an award-winning cowboy (calf roping). Also a standout special team performer, Pascoe blocked six kicks over his career, including two in 2008. Had an arm span of 33 3/4 inches and a hand span of 9 3/4 inches at the combine.

Mister Pittsburgh

09-12-2009, 12:07 AM

I had Pascoe in my mock draft....
TE – Bear Pascoe – Fresno State – 6’5” 260lbs
Pascoe is a huge TE with good pass catching abilities and blocks like an offensive lineman. Originally went to Fresno as a QB but adjusted to TE quickly and was a 3 year starter. With the amount of 2 and 3 TE sets the Steelers run I think a player like Pascoe could replace Matt Spaeth who struggles with his blocking assignments. TE in the Steelers sytem need to be able to block and catch.
Reps 225lbs –
40 yds – 4.96 sec.

buckeyehoppy

09-12-2009, 12:16 AM

Not for nothin', but doesn't anyone here think it's a little odd that the Steelers aren't looking at OL prospects that can support the run? Must be a REALLY lean market out there.

RuthlessBurgher

09-12-2009, 12:17 AM

Not for nothin', but doesn't anyone here think it's a little odd that the Steelers aren't looking at OL prospects that can support the run? Must be a REALLY lean market out there.

I believe both the Eagles and Bills were working out Jon Runyan this week. Just sayin'.

buckeyehoppy

09-12-2009, 12:30 AM

Not for nothin', but doesn't anyone here think it's a little odd that the Steelers aren't looking at OL prospects that can support the run? Must be a REALLY lean market out there.

I believe both the Eagles and Bills were working out Jon Runyan this week. Just sayin'.

And he couldn't help us on the right in run support? I don't know if it's just that FWP is allergic anymore to getting his butt outside on the run. But, if BA insists on dumping him between the Ts, he needs to get some draught horses who can do the work. Sorry, but Willie Colon simply blows in run support.

jj28west

09-12-2009, 07:52 AM

Guys,

It may be putting the cart before the horse (or however that saying goes) but this RB Jamall Lee has some incredble upside! I agree however that even Bo Jackson would have trouble in our running game.

Slapstick

09-12-2009, 08:02 AM

I rewatched the game...at times, there were lanes that Willie didn't run through...his vision was just not there last night...

jj28west

09-12-2009, 08:35 AM

I rewatched the game...at times, there were lanes that Willie didn't run through...his vision was just not there last night...

I am hearing this alot. Unfortunately I was at work and only could listen to radio for most of the 1st half. When Melwelde came in I saw him run into a wall in some 3rd & 1 plays but maybe the box was stacked with 8 guys.

SanAntonioSteelerFan

09-12-2009, 09:29 AM

Maybe the wheels didn't ever go back on FWP the same way ...

Jooser

09-12-2009, 09:31 AM

I rewatched the game...at times, there were lanes that Willie didn't run through...his vision was just not there last night...

I am hearing this alot. Unfortunately I was at work and only could listen to radio for most of the 1st half. When Melwelde came in I saw him run into a wall in some 3rd & 1 plays but maybe the box was stacked with 8 guys.

I rewatched the game last night too. I agree Parker did indeed miss some running lanes, and at other times, he got tackled by the shoes on plays that he could've made them miss and pick up 8-10 yards. To counter our run blocking scheme, Tennessee was simply shooting the gaps and blowing by our linemen. They did it consistently all night and had our OL playing on their heels trying to catch up. This quick penetration allowed their LBs to fill without much resistence coming forward to stop them. I think the biggest issue with our line right now is that they are extremely slow. Max gets his butt handed to him on the speed rush to the outside, but I watched him take on and absolutely stop the bull rush dead in it's tracks. The run game is non-existent on the left side as well. All relative "success" that we've had is running up behind Essex and Colon on the right.

Jom112

09-12-2009, 10:36 AM

I had Pascoe in my mock draft....
TE – Bear Pascoe – Fresno State – 6’5” 260lbs
Pascoe is a huge TE with good pass catching abilities and blocks like an offensive lineman. Originally went to Fresno as a QB but adjusted to TE quickly and was a 3 year starter. With the amount of 2 and 3 TE sets the Steelers run I think a player like Pascoe could replace Matt Spaeth who struggles with his blocking assignments. TE in the Steelers sytem need to be able to block and catch.
Reps 225lbs –
40 yds – 4.96 sec.

I had Bear in one of my mocks as well. He's a good player that I've seen make good catches in college in tight spaces. He ain't the fastest and will have some trouble getting separation but other than that he's a good TE...

RuthlessBurgher

09-12-2009, 11:05 AM

The Lee kid is definitely intriguing:

6-foot-2, 225 pounds
4.39 in the 40 (the best 40 time by a RB at the combine was 4.45)
44-inch vertical jump
10 foot broad jump
19 reps at 225 pounds

You have to wonder about the quality of competition he faced in Canada, though (we got Logan from Canada, but Logan was playing in the pros up there with the CFL...Lee was playing Canadian collegiate football).

I don't see a spot for him on the roster, but I would prefer to have an upside guy like this on our practice squad over, say, Justin Vincent.

steeler_fan_in_t.o.

09-12-2009, 12:38 PM

I rewatched the game...at times, there were lanes that Willie didn't run through...his vision was just not there last night...

I agree Slap. He just looked way too hesitant out there. He is a speed guy - close your eyes, run forward, and hope you hit a hole and can keep going. If not you hit a brick wall of linemen and are dropped for a three yard loss - which was the result of most of his runs anyways.

steeler_fan_in_t.o.

09-12-2009, 01:30 PM

04/28/2009 - A closer look at the 49ers' picks: Round 6/184 - Bear Pascoe, TE, 6-5, 255, Fresno State...Pascoe is a relentless blocker who can immediately step into the role Billy Bajema held the past four seasons. Pascoe will be used as a blocking specialist, while also contributing on special teams

McKenna "Bear" Pascoe is a throwback tight end with good receiving skills to move the chains as well as the size and strength to contribute as a run blocker. He had 85 catches for 953 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons, earning first-team All-WAC in 2007 and second-team honors as a senior. He earns his nickname by running tough after contact and doubling as an award-winning cowboy (calf roping). Also a standout special team performer, Pascoe blocked six kicks over his career, including two in 2008. Had an arm span of 33 3/4 inches and a hand span of 9 3/4 inches at the combine.

They brought in HB Summers with the intention of turning him into a FB. Is it too much of a stretch to think that they would bring in a TE to turn him into an H Back?

BigLebowski

09-12-2009, 07:42 PM

I rewatched the game...at times, there were lanes that Willie didn't run through...his vision was just not there last night...

The only vision Willie has or had is the vision of the fullback's butt in front of him. FWP has always wanted a lead blocker...

NorthCoast

09-13-2009, 09:38 AM

This news speaks volumes on the coaches' thinking after the first game. Maybe I am reading too much into this, but it tells me that Tomlin is much more concerned about the offensive issues than the loss of Troy. I think we have adequate coverage for Troy (certainly can't replace him one-for-one). We need to find some nasties for the OL or change the kind of O-game we are trying to implement.

pfelix73

09-13-2009, 10:22 AM

Maybe we should be working out some Fullbacks as well. Darian Barnes is a FA and Tomlin knows him from TB.

This TE in the backfield thing that BA likes to do, just isn't working. They need to see the reality in that, and as soon as they do and get a real FB in there, our running game should start to improve. Of course, you have to call plays out of formations including a FB- something BA has a problem with.

It would be nice to have a Lorenzo Neal back there but he's already taken. Then again, maybe he isn't. He's listed as a FA. Did he retire?

:tt1

RuthlessBurgher

09-13-2009, 10:43 AM

Maybe we should be working out some Fullbacks as well. Darian Barnes is a FA and Tomlin knows him from TB.

This TE in the backfield thing that BA likes to do, just isn't working. They need to see the reality in that, and as soon as they do and get a real FB in there, our running game should start to improve. Of course, you have to call plays out of formations including a FB- something BA has a problem with.

It would be nice to have a Lorenzo Neal back there but he's already taken. Then again, maybe he isn't. He's listed as a FA. Did he retire?

:tt1

LoNeal signed with the Raiders this off-season, but he was cut.

phillyesq

09-13-2009, 11:56 AM

If nothing else, it sounds like these two have more upside than Dezmond Sherrod and Justin Vincent. Might as well add some upside guys to the practice squad.

fezziwig

09-13-2009, 05:22 PM

Are there no o-linemen to look at or, is Arians looking for a deal with this guy ? Trying to get two positions for the price of one . Those deals are nice but only after you have a core of solid starters that can actually perform their jobs.

One season later and the o-line looks even worse than it did this time last year. All their talk about injuries, getting time to work together, etc is just excuses losers make. They won lat season because the defense has always kept them in the game. You have an o-line that can't get one yard if it needed to.

steeler_fan_in_t.o.

09-14-2009, 09:18 AM

This TE in the backfield thing that BA likes to do, just isn't working. They need to see the reality in that, and as soon as they do and get a real FB in there, our running game should start to improve.

Actually, I don't mind the TE in the backfield. Last year I thought that some of their best runs came with McHugh as the lead blocker. If the TE can actually block then he must be accounted for two ways - because he could motion out into a TE or receivers position.

I also would not mind the return of a Kreider type, but I think this running game has bigger problems than TEs in the backfield.

ikestops85

09-14-2009, 02:29 PM

I think that we must have set a record last year with O linemen wiffing when trying to block in a short yardage situation. It's an amazing talent when you aren't able to hit a guy who is literally 6 inches in front of you and let him waltz into the backfield untouched. I have to give Z credit because he has taught them how to do that very well. :HeadBanger :HeadBanger

Oviedo

09-14-2009, 04:27 PM

This TE in the backfield thing that BA likes to do, just isn't working. They need to see the reality in that, and as soon as they do and get a real FB in there, our running game should start to improve.

Actually, I don't mind the TE in the backfield. Last year I thought that some of their best runs came with McHugh as the lead blocker. If the TE can actually block then he must be accounted for two ways - because he could motion out into a TE or receivers position.

I also would not mind the return of a Kreider type, but I think this running game has bigger problems than TEs in the backfield.